VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #1156 3452223
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 112223Z DEC 07
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3313
INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA IMMEDIATE 1767

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001156 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: UNSC PTER PREL
SUBJECT: UNSC 1373:  NEW CTED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PLANS 
CHANGES 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  At a courtesy call on December 10, 
Ambassador Michael Smith (Australia), the newly appointed 
Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee's 
Executive Directorate (CTED), told Ambassador Khalilzad and 
Ambassador Wolcott that CTED can perform its current 
functions better, although he does not think CTED's broad 
mandate needs significant adjustments.  Resolution 1787, 
which the Security Council adopted unanimously on December 
10, extends CTED's mandate for 90 days and requests Smith, 
within 60 days of adoption of the resolution and in 
consultation with Security Council members, to recommend 
"such changes he deems appropriate to CTED's organizational 
plan."  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (SBU) In a December 10 meeting with CTED Executive 
Director Smith, Ambassador Khalilzad stressed the importance 
of CTED and invited Smith's views on whether the Security 
Council should change CTED's mandate.  Ambassador Khalilzad 
said the temporary rollover of CTED's mandate provides a 
useful opportunity to look at all aspects of the Security 
Council's work on terrorism, noting that the Council is a 
better forum than the General Assembly for pursuing 
counterterrorism initiatives. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Smith thanked the United States for supporting his 
successful candidacy and said he would use the next 60 days 
to develop ideas on CTED's mandate, in consultation with 
Security Council members.  Smith agreed that the General 
Assembly is not doing much on counterterrorism but thought 
significantly changing CTED's mandate might not be 
appropriate, since the General Assembly, in adopting the UN 
Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, has "covered the 
waterfront."  Instead, he envisaged proposing changes in 
CTED's working methods and its organizational structure. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Although CTED's activities are "useful," Smith said 
CTED could do its work better and could do more within its 
existing mandate.  Smith said he plans to try to change 
CTED's office culture to be sure it does a better job 
reaching out to and winning broad support from Member States, 
many of which are reaching the limits of their tolerance for 
allowing CTED to examine carefully their counterterrorism 
efforts.  For example, he said it is not necessarily 
appropriate or effective for CTED to criticize deeply 
underdeveloped States that are "marginal in the war on 
terror" for failing to adopt sophisticated legislation on 
counterterrorism financing.  To garner States' support, he 
recommended that CTED become more broadly and more openly 
involved in the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Smith also said he wants to get CTED to articulate 
where its "value-added" lies, noting that sometimes CTED 
duplicates work that is already being done well bilaterally 
or through other multilateral bodies.  For example, when CTED 
visited Indonesia, where Australia is extensively engaged, 
CTED tried to accomplish a number of goals that Australia 
could pursue more effectively.  In contrast, he thought CTED 
could play a constructive role in helping to create pressure 
on the Indonesian Parliament, which has been reluctant to 
adopt new counterterrorism legislation. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Comment:  Smith is taking his new responsibilities 
seriously and is prepared to engage productively with the 
United States.  His thoughtful, pragmatic approach will be an 
excellent asset for the Counter-Terrorism Committee and its 
CTED, and the Mission will continue to work closely with him 
as he refines his ideas concerning CTED's organization and 
mandate.  End Comment. 
Khalilzad